Kinner Kailash Yatra suspended, 413 pilgrims rescued after flash floods wash away bridges

The Kinner Kailash Yatra has been suspended by the Kinnaur district administration after suspected cloudbursts triggered flash floods, washing away two key bridges and parts of the trekking route. In a massive nine-hour-long operation, rescue teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully evacuated 413 pilgrims who were stranded on different parts of the treacherous trail. The flash floods, which occurred along the Kheer Ganga riverbanks on Tuesday, have caused significant destruction, raising concerns for the safety of pilgrims.

The rescue effort was a testament to the commitment of the ITBP personnel, who used a specialized "rope rescue traverse crossing technique" to safely transport pilgrims across the raging river. The Kinnaur District Magistrate, Amit Sharma, confirmed that a bridge near the base camp had collapsed, trapping nearly 100 pilgrims who are now safe but awaiting evacuation to a safer location. Additional teams of rescuers have been mobilized to the site to address new distress calls and ensure no pilgrims are left behind in the difficult terrain.

The decision to suspend the yatra was made after a thorough assessment of the damage, which includes the washing away of bridges at Tanglipi and Kangerang. The district administration has appealed to all travelers and pilgrims to refrain from undertaking the yatra until further notice. The incident highlights the precarious conditions in Himachal Pradesh, which has been grappling with continuous heavy rainfall, landslides, and road closures, disrupting normal life and posing a significant threat to tourism and pilgrimage activities.